Peru: Granting amnesty is turning our backs on victims

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Lima, 13 June 2025. Amnesty International rejects bill 7549, approved by Congress on the first vote, which proposes granting amnesty to members of the Armed Forces, the Police, members of self-defense committees and State officials who have not received a final sentence in “cases related to the fight against terrorism in the period 1980-2000”. Likewise, it establishes a “humanitarian amnesty” for people over 70 years of age who have a final sentence with the quality of res judicata or are in the process of serving a sentence.

The approval of this bill violates and jeopardizes access to justice, truth and reparation for thousands of victims and their families, as it puts a stop to the ongoing criminal action against alleged perpetrators of crimes under international law and spares punishment for those who have been found responsible for crimes such as extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, torture and sexual violence.  

This amnesty, if definitively approved, will impact at least 156 cases with a final sentence whose perpetrators – who are currently serving sentences for crimes against humanity and serious human rights violations – will be released. In addition, it would put an end to hundreds of cases under investigation and trial, such the Putis (Ayacucho) massacre in 1984, where 123 people were killed. 

“Thousands of families have been seeking justice, truth and reparation for decades. To close the wounds of the internal armed conflict, it is essential that all victims have access to their rights. It is essential to think about a reasonable timeframe for the victims, and that means that it is important to strengthen investigations and prosecutors’ offices, not to eliminate processes and penalties for the perpetrators of serious human rights violations”, said Marina Navarro, executive director of Amnesty International Peru. 

Regional and international human rights standards clearly state that amnesties are inadmissible for cases of serious violations and crimes against humanity, such as those committed in Peru between 1980 and 2000. Granting amnesties to the alleged perpetrators and those responsible for these acts represents a serious breach of the international obligation acquired by the Peruvian State to investigate, prosecute and punish those who commit serious human rights violations, and to guarantee access to justice for the victims.

On the other hand, ensuring the life and guaranteeing the right to health of a person deprived of their liberty is a legitimate concern, but each case must be reviewed individually and evaluated proportionately, so that any measure taken does not prejudice the right of victims of human rights violations and their families to justice. 

“It is very worrying that in Peru, instead of strengthening guarantees of non-repetition, a law that prescribes crimes against humanity was approved last year, and today approval is being sought for a generalized amnesty project. You cannot turn your back on victims and family members who have been waiting for justice for decades. We will continue to demand justice, truth, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition for the victims and Peruvian society”, Navarro said. 

Faced with this risk of impunity, we urge the Peruvian Congress to reject this initiative, and the justice authorities to strengthen investigations that guarantee access to justice, truth and reparation for victims. 

© 2025 Amnesty International